Animal-trap.



B. M. FIKES.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 3o, 1912.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH cD..wASHlNaToN. D. c.

BENJAMIN M. FIKES, OF CAMERON, TEXAS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 30, 1912.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913.

Serial No. 723,023.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN M. Finns, acitizen of the United States, residing at Cameron, in the county ofMilam and State of Texas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsv in Animalflraps, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in animal traps, andrelates moreparticularly to such traps as are employed to catch smallfur bearing animals*- such as minks, otter, raccoons, etc. j

The object of the invention is to provide a trap having the nature of ahollow cylinder closed at one extremity and adapted to be verticallyembedded in the ground, with its open end substantially flush with thesurface of the ground, a plurality of spikes projecting convergentlydownward being provided within the cylinder adjacent to the open end,which spikes will yield to admit the paw of an animal reaching for baitcontained yin the bottom of the cylinder, but will tend to securelygripthe animals paw when an attemptis made to withdraw the same. l. i

A further object is to provide a convenient means for normally retainingsaid spikesin their operative positions, and for permitting the spikesto be withdrawn from such position when it is desired to extricate ananimal from the trap.

Finally the object of theinvention is to provide a device of thecharacter described, that will be strong, durable, simple and etlicientand comparatively easy to construct,`

and also one that will not be likely to get out of working order.

With these and various other objects in View, my invention has relationto certain novel features of the construction and operation, an exampleof which is described in the following specilication, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is an end view of the trap, the open end of the same beingshown. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view t-aken upon the line X-X ofFig. l. Fig. 3 is view in side elevation showing the trap embedded inthe ground as when in use, the means employed to prevent the trap beingdragged away by any animal also being shown.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like referencecharacters designate similar parts in all the figures, the

numeral 'l denotes a hollow metal cylinder, having an integral closure 2of conical form at one extremity. An increased thickness is given to thecylinder 1 at its open extremity h v the formation upon the exteriorcylinder surt'ace o'tl an integral collar 3 provided with screw-threads.An annular portion of the collar I-'S closely adjacent to the openextremity ot the cylinder is ot' a some what reduced diameter asindicated at 4, this portion being adapted to form a seat for a setscrewas will presently bc explained, A plurality ot' equidistanttubulaiaper-` tures 5 are provided in the cylinder l adjacent to theopen extremity of the same, said apertures being inclined at an acuteangle to the axis of the cylinder, each aperture having one of itsextremities opening in the end wall 'of the cylinder and the other endcommunicating with the cylinder interior. A sharp pointed spike G isadapted to be inserted into each aperture 5, the heads of said spikesbeing countersunk in the end wall ot' the cylinder. When the spikes areall in place, their points will lie in a plane transverse with thecylinder and will be separated from cach other a sutlicicnt distance topermit an animal to insert its paw into the cylinder byV slightlydistorting the spikes from each other. ln order that such distortion ofthe spikes may take place, they will be formed of spring steel drawn .t0a

.fine point.

The means employed tonormally retain the spikes in their properpositions relative .to the cylinder and to each other will now bedescribed. This means comprises an apertured cap 7 provided with aninteriorly threaded flange adapted to engage the threads carried by thecollar 3. The central aperture of the cap 7 is substantially equal indiameter to the interior diameter of the cylinder, as is clearly shownin Fig. 2 of the drawing. When the cap 7 is screwed into place, it willcome into contact with the end surface of t-he cylinder, covering theconntersunk heads oi' the spike 6 and preventing displacement of saidspikes. The cap 7 is provided with a plurality of equidistant apertures9 equal in number to the spikes 6, and adapted through rotation of thecap 7 to be brought into alinement with the apertures 5. The apertures 9are inclined at an angle with the central axis of the cap 7, the angleof inclination being equal to that of the apertures 5. It is thusapparent that when the cap 7 is rotated to such a position as to bringthe apertures 9 into alinement with the apertures 5, the spikes 6 may bewithdrawn from t-heir normal positions by displacement through theapertures 9. As a safe-guard to prevent the collars 7 rotat ing to sucha position that the spikes 6 may escape, the said collar is providedwith a set screw 8 the extremity of which is adapted to bear upon theseat formed by the annular portion 4L of the collar 3.

At the juncture of the collar 3 with the main body of the cylinder 1, apair of diametrically opposite lugs 10 are p'rovided upon the outer faceof the cylinder. To each of these lugs is secured a short piece of chainconnect-ing with a longer piece of chain 11 by which the trap may besecured to some anchorage-as for example-a stake 12.

The cap 7 will preferably be fluted upon its exterior surface tofacilitate the screwing and unscrewing of the cap upon the cylinderextremity.

In trapping animals by means `of the above described device, thecylinder 1 will preferably be embedded upon the bank of some stream, asis illustrated in 3 of the drawing. Some suitable form of animal bait,as for example fish or honey, will be disposed in the bottom of thecylinder 1. An animal endeavoring to reach this bait will force its pawinto the cylinder spreading the pointed extremities of the spikes 6apart. Vhen an attempt is made by the animal to withdraw its paw, theinclined spikes 6 pressing upon the paw will be driven beneath the skinthereof, and prevent the animal from escaping. In case the animal in itsstruggle succeeds in un-earthing the cylinder 1, it will be preventedfrom Copies of this patent may be obtained for walking off with the trapowing to the fact that the chain 11 is anchored at the point 12.

It is to be observed that an animal caught in the trap may be extricatedeither by bringing the apertures 9 into alinement with the apertures 5or by entirely removing the cap 7, so that the spikes 6 may be readilyremoved from theiroperative positions.

The invention is presented as including all such modifications asproperly come within the scope of the following claims.

That I claim is:

1. An animal trap comprising a hollow cylinder closed at one extremity,a plurality of spikes `mounted in the cylinder wall adjacent to the openend of the cylinder, said spikes being inclined toward the closed end ofthe cylinder and toward the cylinder axis, and a cap threaded upon theopen end of the cylinder adapted to normally prevent removal of saidspikes.

2. An animal trap comprising a hollow cylinder closed at one extremity,a plurality of spikes mounted removably in apertures provided in thecylinder wall adjacent to the open end of the cylinder, said spikesbeing inclined toward the cylinder axis and toward the closed end of thecylinder, a cap adapted to be secured upon the open end of the cylinderand adapted to cover the heads of said spikes, said caps being providedwith a. plurality of apertures which when brought into alinement, withthe spikes serves to permit the latter to be withdrawn.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN IVI. FIKES.

Witnesses:

J. S. MURRAY, CALLIE MORGAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patente. Washington,D. C.

